Serbian Choral Group Pays Tribute to Tesla

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — The visit to this city of the Karageorge Serbian Orthodox Church Choir of Gary, Ind., on the weekend almost turned out to be a pilgrimage to honor Nikola Tesla.

Tesla was a Serbian genius who came to the United States in 1884 and who ranged in importance with Edison and Steinmetz in the development and applications of electric power used today. He died in New York in 1943.

As expressed by Milan Perich, president of the choir and himself a direct descendent of Tesla, “We wished to see again for ourselves, and to show our children, not only the beauty of Niagara but also the world’s largest concentration of hydro-electric generation made possible by many of Tesla’s accomplishments.”

The group, 80-odd strong, traveled by bus and were entertained by members of the congregation of the St. George’s Serbian Orthodox Church led by Rev. L. Stojanovich.

Elaborate plans for the visitors were curtailed upon the sudden passing of P. Zekavica, a founding member of St. George’s congregation. They did, however, tour the Sir Adam Beck No. 2 generating station and spent the afternoon sightseeing.